uhthoff



Oct. 9, 1934. R. D. UHTHOFF VOTING MACHINE 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 18

INVENTOR BY file/ Aliza We:

v AITORNEY Oct. 9, 1934. R. D. UHTHOFF 1,975,992

VOTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RIC/IA R0 .0. (/HT/VOFF BY A TORNEY Oct. 9, 1934. R UHT'HIOFF 1,975,992

VOTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 27 I g 0 2 21, 1 7 '3. I

INVENTOR BY file/ 11.190 Z7. UhfTHOF/Z MM Wm ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9 1934 one-tenth to Benjamin Webster and ninetwentieths to Thomas A. Dobson, both of New York, N. 55.;

Frieda M. Uhthofi administratrix of said Richard H. Uhthoff, deceased Application December 18', 1929, Serial No. 414,924 Renewed November 29, 1933 3 Claims.

l eating to the election oflicials the party of the voter and for simultaneously unlocking the proper row of voting knobs for the use of such a voter; and third, to provide such a mechanism that is easy of manufacture and assembly.

- Reference is made to the drawings which are hereby made a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a rear elevation showing a series of vertical bars and two horizontal bars the upper of which is in the locked position and the lower in l the voting position,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation showing the end wall of the machine in section and the supporting strip broken away to show the indicator above in the voting position and below in the locked position,

" Figure 3 is an end view with the supporting strips in section showing the party indicator in voting position, and

Figure 4 is a similar view but with the indicator in the concealed or locked position.

Throughout the drawings similar numerals of reference refer to like parts. The vertical bars 1 are provided with rows of studs 2 near the edge of each bar adapted to be engaged by cams 3 of which there are four diametrically opposed and mounted on each voting shaft 5. Mounted on the vertical bars 1 are other rows of studs 4 mounted near both edges and adapted to engage loop springs 6 which have small loops '7 adapted to .40 spring over the proximate studs and lie between a pair to support the vertical bars. The opposed ends of loop springs 6 are passed through grooves 8 of split studs 9 fastened in the wall of the machine. Studs 10 fixed in the wall of the machine guide the bars vertically in the slots 11. The horizontal bars 12 have horizontal slots 13 and 15 by means of which they are slidably mounted on studs 14 and 16 respectively. Adjacent each voting shaft 5 in the lower end of each horizontal bar 12 is a recess 1'7 the upper wall 18 of which is cut away suflicient to clear the cams 13 and at the right as shown in the drawings is a convex projection 19 adapted to fit in the spaces 20 lying between adjacent cams 3. In Figure l the upper horizontal bar 12 is in the locking position as shown above and as shown below in the voting position; in Figure 2 however the horizontal bar 12 above is shown in the voting position and below in the locked position. The locking device comprises slots 21, in which slide studs 22 mount- 0 ed on the horizontal bars, formed in the ends of links 23 which pass through the end wall 24 of the voting machine and are pivotally connected to cranks 25 which in turn are locked to shafts 26 each journalled in a pair of vertical strips 27. Fixed on each shaft 26 is an indicator 28 provided with rounded projections 29 at the top and bottom of each by means of which the indicator may be turned by the finger or thumb to expose an indicator face 30 each of which bears the name of a party as shown in Figure 3 and projects bebe yond the edges of strips 2'7. In the locked position the rear 31 is exposed but lies behind the outer edges of strips 2'? which are supported by brackets 32 to the wall 24 of the machine. In the initial position as the voter approaches the machine all of the indicators 28 are in the lower position as shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 4 and the voting shafts 5 are locked against turning by projections 19 on the horizontal bars 12 which are 30 locked against right hand movements as shown because the studs 22 lie in the extreme right hand of slots 21. As shown in the upper part of Figure 2 link 23 and slot 21 have been moved to the right by turning the indicator 28 to operate the 5 crank 25, thus pulling projections 19 away from the voting shafts 5 and permitting all of the voting shafts in any horizontal row to be turned by the voter. After the voter leaves the machine the indicator is again reset to the position shown in the lower part of Figure 2 to lock the voting knobs in that party row.

Having now described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention I do not choose to limit myself except as in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a voting machine of the type described, a voting shaft comprising four radially equidistant cams, a horizontal bar, means on said bar adapted to lock said voting shaft against rotation comprising a recess in said bar, a part of said recess having a convex projection adapted to engage said voting shaft between two adjacent cams to prevent rotation thereof, and means for locking said .5 bar against horizontal movement.

2. In a voting machine of the type described, a voting shaft, four cams radially and equidistantly mounted on said voting shaft, a horizontal bar, a

recess in said bar, a part of said recess being so and stud connection between the bar and the link, an indicator, a rotatable mounting for said indicator and a crank pivoted on the link and connected with said indicator, in the locked position of said bar said crank connection lying between said bar and said rotatable mounting and in the unlocked position of said bar said rotatable mounting lying between said horizontal bar and said crank connection.

' RICHARD D. UI-ITHOFF. 

